Interview
Chad, how long have you been a personal trainer?
I started training people when I was 18 years old. I’ve been studying training and fitness for over 10 years. I’m nationally certified as a personal trainer. I am very knowledgeable in body sculpting and reshaping as well as nutrition and supplement guidance.
How did you get interested in fitness and training?
I was born in 1978 and grew up in central Oregon. I realized at a young age that I was a good athlete. I have an identical twin brother and we both exceeded our classmates in athletics. I participated in wrestling, football and track. Beginning at age 10, I started wrestling and I was undefeated throughout middle school, high school and college. After college I was on the USA freestyle wrestling team for a year. I was always in very good shape as a wrestler - lean and muscular. I started lifting weights as a high school sophomore and put on 40 pounds of muscle in a year. I was a lot stronger than other wrestlers because of my weight training. That’s when I realized lifting weights and good nutrition could do tremendous things for your body. It started my inspiration for weight training and fitness. I kept gaining muscle all though high school and college.
Are you a part-time fitness model? Tell me about that.
Yes, I’m a fitness model as well as an independent personal trainer. I plan on entering more bodybuilding shows and fitness events in the future. I’ve been in several bodybuilding shows and placed in the top three in each one. My ethnic background is German, English, Filipino and Spanish which has given me good bone structure and muscle symmetry.
Is your muscle all for show or do you have strength behind your appearance?
Strength comes before size. Appearance is important, but having strength behind that appearance makes you a successful bodybuilder.
How strong are you?
I’ve benched over 400 pounds and have squatted around 550.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like music and karaoke singing. Besides fitness and bodybuilding I like mountain biking, snowboarding, and driving fast cars and motorcycles. I like to hang out with friends and to go to the beach and catch some sun.
Is your twin brother a personal trainer and bodybuilder also?
Yes, my brother Chris is also a personal trainer and bodybuilding competitor here in Los Angeles. What made me extremely competitive was the challenge of having an identical twin brother to compete against. We sometimes do fitness modeling together. It’s kind of unique, being two identical twin fitness models and bodybuilders. That could be a hot commodity in the fitness industry.
What program do you use for your personal training clients? Do you emphasize strength, cardio or dieting?
I train male and female clients. They are actors, models, business people and professionals - young and old. I design an individual workout program for each client, based on the client’s genetics and goals. I believe in resistance training, and combine it with cardio and diet, creating the perfect workout for each individual’s body type.
What about stretching?
You should stretch briefly before a workout. You should do more intense stretching after your workout, after the muscles are warm. If you don’t stretch, the muscles could tighten up. I believe in stretching every day.
What sets you apart as a personal trainer?
I have a lot of internal drive, mental discipline and motivation. When I train a client, I try to pass these things onto the client. I strive to spread healthy and fit lifestyles not only to clients but also to friends. I take great pride in transforming my clients, not only physically but also mentally. I specialize in body sculpting and reshaping - overall appearance and symmetry.